ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS DEFEND PROGRAM AS VITAL ALTERNATIVE

Proposal to align programs with community colleges could affect course offerings

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to align adult-education programs with community colleges has not gone over well with some students and others who want K-12 school districts to continue overseeing the classes.

“I know there are a lot of waiting lists at community colleges,” said Tamara Villegas, 49, attending Vista Adult School in pursuit of a second career as a medical assistant. The school is run by the Vista Unified School District.

Some students there, including Villegas, want to gain new job skills. Others are seeking a high school diploma or equivalent General Educational Development certificate. Still others are learning English as a second language.

Many said they want to eventually attend community college, but for now they are more comfortable going to classes at a converted elementary school. In contrast, Brown envisions adult-education students having more exposure to college — and becoming inspired by that exposure — if their programs are run by community colleges.

H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the governor’s Department of Finance, said Brown’s proposal does not necessarily mean the end of adult education in K-12 districts. He described it as a step toward correcting a bifurcated system: About two-thirds of adult-education classes already are held on community college campuses.

The governor’s plan would not cut K-12 funding for adult education, but would provide community colleges a separate $300 million for adult education and $15.7 million for apprenticeship programs. The K-12 districts would then have the choice of using their adult-education funding for such classes or diverting the money for other uses.

Some educators have speculated that school districts will immediately cancel their adult-education offerings and channel the funding into rebuilding K-12 programs that were cut during California’s budget crisis in recent years. It’s unclear whether there would be a net gain or decrease in the number of adult-education courses statewide.

Amid the uncertainty, the Vista Unified School District issued layoff notices in February to 82 of its adult-school employees. Other K-12 districts in the state have taken similar actions. The notices can be rescinded before the new school year starts in July. Last month, a state Assembly subcommittee on education unanimously rejected the governor’s adult-education proposal.

Subcommittee Chairman Bob Blumenfield, D-San Fernando Valley, said the plan raises more questions than it answers and doesn’t appear to serve more students or improve services for them.

“It also risks doing more harm than good to a vital program that helps build literacy, citizenship and job skills,” he said.

The state Senate has not acted on the proposal.

The state Legislative Analyst’s Office has recommended that the Legislature reject Brown’s adult-education setup, but it also has called for adopting an alternative package of improvements.

In an email Thursday, Palmer said the governor may make some revisions to the idea before the state budget for 2013-14 is adopted.

“The administration continues to believe that the proposal has merit,” Palmer wrote. “However, we understand that some legislators have some issues or concerns with the proposal, and we’re certainly willing to work with them to move the process forward.”